Prisoner-swap negotiator Meidan to leave Mossad

David Meidan will leave Mossad after 35 years of service both in Israel and abroad, PMO announces.

David Meidan 370.
(photo credit:GPO)

David Meidan, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s envoy who negotiated the deal leading to the release last year of kidnapped soldier Gilad Schalit, will be leaving the Mossad after 35 years of service both in Israel and abroad, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Sunday.

Following the Schalit deal, Netanyahu appointed Meidan in November to be the coordinator of issues relating to missing soldiers and prisoners, replacing Ilan Biran who held the position for 10 years.

Despite leaving the public service to go into the private sector, the announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office said that Meidan had agreed to continue to deal with the prisoners and missing soldiers’ issues, as well as “any other public issue” he may be asked to deal with.

In November there were numerous reports, never officially confirmed by the government, that Meidan was tapped by Netanyahu as a special envoy to try and iron out differences with Ankara.

Netanyahu thanked Meidan for his “dedicated and important work” on behalf of the prisoners and missing soldiers.